Travel Guides

Navigation

Marathon des Sables

The week-long Sand Marathon (often known simply as the MdS)
takes place in the gruelling conditions of the Moroccan desert with
sandstorms and brain-frying heat as the major obstacles to
achieving such an intense feat. The race is over 150 miles (241km)
of craggy, sandswept terrain and competitors from around the world
partake in the charity-driven event that benefits the
infrastructure of the region. It is a multi-stage adventure race
through the formidable Sahara Desert, made more difficult by the
fact that all competitors must carry whatever they need to survive,
apart from water and a tent, which will be provided. Only the
fittest and most prepared are advised to partake as this is an
extreme race, certainly not your ordinary marathon. In fact, the
Marathon des Sables has been ranked by the Discovery Channel as the
toughest footrace on earth, and is said to be the equivalent of
five and a half marathons. Completing the race is a huge
achievement and the desert landscapes are said to richly reward the
effort. It is possible to enter as an individual or as a team. It
is not the easiest race to watch, for obvious reasons, but
spectators and supporters do gather at certain landmarks.